Lincolnton fast-food eatery closed following morning fire

JENNA-LEY HARRISON

Staff Writer

A Lincolnton business is closed following a blaze at the site early Friday morning, fire officials said.

Preparing for the day’s operations, employees at the Sonic Drive-In on East Main Street spotted smoke and flames stemming from the business’s deep fryers around 8:15 a.m., Lincolnton Fire Chief Mitch Burgin said.

The two workers inside the building at the time exited the business and called 911. No customers were inside the facility since the incident took place before the restaurant was open.

Firefighters were able to successfully extinguish the flames and contain the fire to the deep fryer area, Burgin said.

The hood extinguishing system kept the fire in check until crews arrived on scene, fire officials added.

Burgin praised fire crews and Sonic employees for working together to ensure the situation had a positive outcome.

“The employees did an excellent job of recognizing the danger, exiting the building and calling 911 very quickly,” he said.